Latest news with #Purkayastha
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Researchers discover new species of diurnal gecko in Assam
1 2 3 Guwahati: A new species of diurnal (day-active) gecko, measuring between 30.8 to 35.7 mm from snout to vent, has been discovered in Assam . The species has been named 'Cnemaspis Brahmaputra' in homage to the Brahmaputra river, enriching India's reptilian diversity. The discovery was detailed in the scientific journal Taprobanica: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity by a team of researchers, including Amit Sayyed, Madhurima Das, AA Thasun Amarasinghe, Rupankar Bhattacharjee and herpetologist Jayaditya Purkayastha. Purkayastha said the new species belonged to the Cnemaspis Podihuna clade, a group of small, diurnal geckos previously believed to be largely restricted to Sri Lanka. "Its discovery in Assam strengthens the evidence for an ancient biogeographic link between Sri Lanka and the northeast, reflecting historical faunal exchanges across the Indian subcontinent. The species is genetically and morphologically distinct from its Sri Lankan relatives, showing significant evolutionary divergence," Purkayastha said. The discovery marks 'Cnemaspis Brahmaputra' as only the second species of the genus 'Cnemaspis' known from the northeast, the first being 'Cnemaspis Assamensis', described in 2000. Both species are members of the podihuna clade and are confined to the Brahmaputra river valley. However, they are found on opposite banks of the river and exhibit substantial genetic differences. The new species differs from 'Cnemaspis Assamensis' by about 6.0 to 7.2%, while showing a more pronounced divergence of 21.2 to 24.8% from its related species in Sri Lanka, based on differences in their ND2 genes. Purkayastha said the gecko was spotted on the premises of the Dirgheswari temple, located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Science movements must be in alliance with larger social change movements: Prabir Purkayastha
Science and technology movements like free software movements must be in alliance with the larger social change movements in order to really bring about true social change, said journalist and author Prabir Purkayastha. He was speaking at a discussion on his book Knowledge as Commons-Towards Inclusive Science and Technology in Bengaluru on Sunday. Mr. Purkayastha, who is also the founder of NewsClick, said that a lot of things about science and technology which we learn from textbook, is not how real science and technology advances take place. 'A lot of things about science and technology which we learn from the textbook is not how real science and technology advances take place, and I think it is important for people in this audience to really understand that what we say the way science and technology develops in a normative sense... it is true but there are a lot of edge cases where real development takes place,' he said. He said that a small advancement in technology can lead to major advances in science and the major advances in science can have very little technological implications. 'Major advances in physics, science have no major impact on technology and major technological advances have very little scientific advances, but it is also true small science developments have enormous impact on technology and small technology developments have enormous impact on science,' he said. He further added that the relationship between advancements in science and technology is not one-to-one. 'So, the relationship between the two is not one-to-one but it is also true that science is a necessary condition for development of technology just as much technology is a necessary condition for developing science, because any major scientific advance today needs huge investment in technology,' he added.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assam rights org urge Shah to sort NRC issue
1 2 Silchar: The Citizens Rights Preservation Committee (CRPC), an Assam-based social organization, appealed to Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday to intervene in the long-pending NRC issue in the state. The committee urged for immediate legal and administrative measures to address the dire situation of nearly 19 lakh people, who have been excluded from the final NRC list published on August 31, 2019. In a memorandum, submitted to the ministry of home affairs, CRPC secretary general Sadhan Purkayastha and secretary Ali Raja Osmani expressed serious concern over what they termed "prolonged administrative inaction." Furthermore, the CRPC raised alarm over recent incidents, where Indian citizens were allegedly branded as Bangladeshi nationals and "pushed back" across the border. The group termed these acts "unconstitutional" and warned that deporting individuals, with pending cases in high courts or Supreme Court could amount to contempt of court. These "push back" allegations have recently been challenged in the Supreme Court, though the apex court has directed petitioners to approach the Gauhati high court. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The CRPC highlighted that despite the Supreme Court's assurance that excluded individuals would have the right to appeal before Foreigners Tribunals, it remained unfulfilled. "Almost six years later, the Registrar General of India is yet to officially notify the final NRC list and the excluded individuals have not received certified copies of their exclusion — a prerequisite for filing appeals," said Purkayastha. The organization also raised the critical issue of Aadhaar cards being denied to over 27 lakh individuals whose biometric data was withheld during the NRC process. "This has left lakhs without access to basic services and entitlements," Purkayastha added. Recent reports indicate that the Assam government has linked Aadhaar applications to NRC status, further complicating matters for those excluded or who did not apply for NRC. In its memorandum, the CRPC put forth several demands, including immediate distribution of national identity cards to those included in NRC, issuance of Aadhaar cards to individuals who submitted biometric data and a fresh, transparent and just process to review and potentially include the 19 lakh excluded names. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Two NDA candidates elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Assam
Guwahati: The BJP's Kanad Purkayastha and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) veteran Birendra Prasad Baishya have been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Assam, an election official confirmed on Friday. With no Opposition parties fielding candidates, the two National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominees were declared elected on Thursday, the last day for filing nominations. The Rajya Sabha elections were originally scheduled for June 19. This marks the parliamentary debut of Kanad Purkayastha, who currently serves as the BJP's state secretary. A native of Silchar, he is the son of late BJP stalwart and former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha. Baishya, a senior AGP leader and former Union minister, returns to the Upper House for a third term. He has also previously represented Assam in the Lok Sabha. The vacancies arose as the terms of Baishya and BJP's Mission Ranjan Das are set to expire on June 14. Assam has a total of seven seats in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP holds four, while its allies AGP and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) hold one each. The remaining seat is held by an Independent member. After the Trinamool Congress' Sushmita Dev, who was elected to the Upper House of Parliament from West Bengal, Purkayastha would be the second Rajya Sabha member from the Barak Valley region in Assam. Hailing from Silchar, Dev, daughter of former Union Minister and late Congress leader Santosh Mohan Dev, was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha from Silchar parliamentary constituency. Over four million people, mostly Bengali speaking, reside in the three districts of the Barak Valley region in Southern Assam -- Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. Political observers said that despite the Barak Valley's substantial population and political significance, only former four-time MLA Mission Ranjan Das was sent to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket for a brief period. Purkayastha's nomination is an attempt to deal with this gap and aims to strengthen the BJP's base among Bengali Hindus in Barak Valley. The Purkayastha family has been influential in Assam's political circle as veteran leader Kabindra Purkayastha's legacy and Kanad's active participation in the BJP's political activities contribute to the family's persistent prominence in Assam politics.
Hans India
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
BJP names Kanad Purkayastha as candidate for Assam Rajya Sabha polls
Guwahati: The BJP on Saturday announced that the party's Assam state secretary Kanad Purkayastha would be its candidate for the June 19 Rajya Sabha election from the state. BJP's National General Secretary Arun Singh, in a statement, said the party's central election committee has approved the candidature of Purkayastha, who is currently the party's Assam state secretary. A party leader from southern Assam's Barak valley said that Purkayastha is the only son of veteran BJP leader and former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha. Elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam are scheduled on June 19, with counting of votes set to take place the same day. The last date for filling of nominations is June 9, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 12. The ruling BJP had earlier announced that it would field a candidate for one of the seats, leaving the other seat to its ally, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). The two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam would be vacated after the retirement of Mission Ranjan Das (BJP) and Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) on June 14. Assam has seven Rajya Sabha seats. After Trinamool Congress' Sushmita Dev, who was elected to the Upper House of Parliament from West Bengal, Purkayastha would be the second Rajya Sabha member from the Barak Valley. Hailing from Silchar, Dev, daughter of former Union Minister and late Congress leader Santosh Mohan Dev, was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha from Silchar parliamentary constituency. Over four million people, mostly Bengali speaking, reside in the three districts of the Barak Valley region in Southern Assam -- Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. Political observers said that despite the Barak Valley's substantial population and political significance, no leader from this region, adjoining Tripura, has previously been elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket. Purkayastha's nomination is an attempt to deal with this gap and aims to strengthen the BJP's base among Bengali Hindus in Barak Valley. The Purkayastha family has been influential in Assam's political circle as veteran leader Kabindra Purkayastha's legacy and Kanad's active participation in the BJP's political activities contribute to the family's persistent prominence in Assam politics.
